His publicist Matt Glass confirmed he had passed away on Thursday morning.

Mr Glass said: “It’s very sad news. He passed away in the early hours of this morning. It was kept very private, he didn’t want to tell. He wanted to keep it a secret.”

The so-called ‘King of Clubs’, had been battling cancer, which he had kept private.

In 2015 he revealed he had beaten lung cancer, saying: “I couldn’t believe it when they said it was the Big C and it was lung cancer. I’ve never smoked in my life and it’s the worst cancer you can get at my age.

“I was told if I’d waited until I had symptoms like coughing and wheezing it would have been too late to save me.”

The businessman owned a string of clubs – named after himself – around the world, the most famous of which was in London’s West End, which attracted the likes of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

He became a father again at the age of 72, when his wife Bella gave birth to their son, Angelo.

He said at the time: “My last child was born 48 years ago, so I’m up for the challenge.

“I know it’s going to be tough so, of course we’ll have nannies – a night nanny, and a day nanny and a holiday nanny and an aeroplane nanny. I’m ready for the hardship.”

He is survived by his wife and his four children, Karen, Scott, Rosabella and Angelo.